Japanese Calligraphy, Shodo, its Chinese Beginnings and Zen Link

Japanese calligraphy, called shodo in Japanese, is the calligraphy brushed in Japanese. As it happens with many other artistic manifestations in Japan, Japanese calligraphy has its roots in Chinese calligraphy. For many centuries one of the most respected calligraphers in Japan was Chinese Wang Xizhi that lived in the 4th century.

Even so, since the Hiragana and Katakana syllabaries were added to the Japanese writing system, Japanese calligraphers began to develop original Japanese styles of calligraphy.

Styles of Japanese Calligraphy


The classic styles are approximately the same in Chinese calligraphy as in Japanese calligraphy. They are as follows:

1. Seal Script, tensho in Japanese, an very old style of calligraphy

2. Regular Script, kaisho in Japanese, at times called Standard Script in English

3. Clerical Script, reisho in Japanese language

4. Semi-Cursive, gyosho  in Japanese

5. Cursive, sosho in Japanese language, also called Running Script in English

The Four Treasures of Asian Calligraphy


The four essential utensils you need for traditional Japanese calligraphy are called the 4 Treasures and they are: brush, inkstick, rice paper - also called mulberry paper in the West- and  the inkstone to liquefy the fresh ink.

Chinese Calligraphy Origins and Start in Japan


Chinese calligraphy goes back three thousand years, when pictorial symbols or pictographs were carved on bones generally with religious purposed. Later on, in the Qin dynasty, the script was systematized as it had became a decisive instrument for governing the Chinese state.

The Chinese way of calligraphy was introduced to Japan around AD 600. Since then, in Japan calligraphy has been practiced unbrokenly. It has developed its own ways especially in the Zen approach.

At Present in Japan students train in the art of Japanese Calligraphy and it can be studied in high school or universities along with other art disciplines such as painting or music.

Finally, the emergence of performance calligraphy has made it a well-liked interest practiced together in groups by young people. Performance calligraphy has also been introduced to the West and it appears to fascinate many people.

Japanese Calligraphy and Zen Buddhism


Zen Buddhism has had a notable impact in Japanese calligraphy. The most widespread symbol of the Zen school of Japanese calligraphy is the enso circle. The calligrapher brushes the enso circle of enlightenment in one free-flowing stroke that can’t be adjusted or altered.

Japanese Zen calligraphy, the Way of the Brush, is a sort of meditation in action.

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